REBUILDING REY BAUTISTA
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 Nov 2008
Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista will be in the undercard of a high profile televised bout this coming Sunday morning Manila Time when he faces Mexican FECOMBOX bantamweight champion Heriberto ?Cuate? Ruiz. Bautista has won three straight fights since his heart breaking stoppage loss to Daniel Ponce De Leon last year.
Ruiz won the WBC FECOMBOX bantamweight belt last April beating countryman Ernesto Rivera by third round TKO. Last August, Ruiz lost to former WBA flyweight champ Eric Morel by unanimous decision in a bout for the WBO Intercontinental bantamweight title.
The 31 year old Ruiz (37-6-2, 23 KO?s) has faced other quality fighters in losing efforts to former IBF Flyweight champ Irene Pacheco of Columbia in 2006 and Rafael Marquez in an IBF bantamweight title fight in 2004.
Bautista (26-1, 19 KO?s) has have been training at Floyd Mayweather?s gym under the watchful eyes of Ala trainer Edito Villamor. As part of his toughening up process, Boom Boom has been engaging in rigorous workouts and sparring sessions with some of the seasoned and quality professionals training under Mayweather. Another ALA fighter Michael Domingo is also training at that gym. They have decided to train there knowing fully well that Freddie Roach is very busy training Manny Pacquiao. But a second trainer would benefit Bautista. A fresh pair of eyes examining and correcting his flaws would do wonders for the young fighter from Bohol.
Pacland and Philboxing?s fan forum has been filled with negative comments about Bautista?s jaw since that one round KO loss to De Leon. But boxing history is filled with fighters who have had good careers despite having a questionable chin. Not every fighter is blessed with a cast iron jaw like Jake LaMotta or Marvin Hagler.
Luisito Espinosa did have a questionable chin. That did not stop him from winning two titles in two different weight divisions including seven successful defenses at featherweight. He was able to compensate with his speed. footwork and ring smarts. Bautista does not have the same style as Espinosa of course. But to use another example, Thomas Hearns? chin may not have served him well in two of his biggest fights - against Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler ? but he still was the most electrifying fighter of the 1980?s.
Bautista is still 22 years old. He has shown an excellent work ethic during training. Any star athlete will tell you, it was not talent but hard work that brought them to the top. For the meantime, Boom Boom?s toughening up process against Latino fighters will continue. The defensive adjustments will continue. His detractors and faithful fans will also continue to watch.
The Bautista ? Ruiz ten round bout is featured on the 12 round light welterweight fight between Paul Malignaggi and Britain?s Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be telecast by ABS-CBN. Pinoy boxing fans will find this fight interesting as Hatton has been mentioned as a possible Manny Pacquiao opponent.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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